Saudi Arabia’s national cabinet on Tuesday welcomed the contents of the recently announced joint statement issued by the first meeting of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council, said the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
“It reflected the convergence of views, ties of religion, brotherhood and the common destiny, stressing the importance of working to strengthen economic and commercial relations and develop the partnership between the private sector in both countries as well as agreement on opening of border ports and development of ports and roads,” the SPA statement said.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the cabinet's session held at Al Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.
For his part, King Salman highlighted his keenness for developing and strengthening relations between the two countries and their people in all fields, in light of the great potentials available to the two countries which place them in front of a historic opportunity to build an effective partnership to achieve their common aspirations.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman also briefed the cabinet on the contents of the messages he sent to Algerian President Abdulaziz Bouteflika and Iraqi President Dr. Fouad Masoum in addition to outcomes of his audience with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson where they reviewed bilateral relations.
In a statement to (SPA) following the meeting, Culture and Information Minister Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad said that the cabinet appreciated the royal order issued to establish Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Complex for the Prophet's Hadith" in Medina, which will contribute to serve the Prophet's Sunnah.
The cabinet also commended the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for the Initiative of the Future of Investment, which was launched in Riyadh this morning, with the participation of more than 2,500 prominent figures in the business and finance world from more than 60 countries, hosted by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), to discuss the opportunities and challenges that will form the global economy and the investment environment over coming decades, as well as an exhibition of future mega projects, which is an essential part of the Kingdom vision 2030.
The minister of culture and information explained that the cabinet lauded the announcement made by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier and Chairman of the PIF, announcing the launch of "NEOM" project which draws the future destination of the Kingdom's economy, as "NEOM" zone, located on a strategic area of 26,500 km2 overlooking the Red Sea and the Aqaba Gulf from north and west along 468 km, will focus on nine specialized investment sectors targeting the future of human civilizations, with more than $500 billion appropriated by GIF of Saudi Arabia in the coming years, in addition to what would be allocated by local and international investors.
The cabinet discussed a number of topics and events on the regional and international arenas, pointing out to the outcome of the closing session of the 29th Council of Arab Ministers conference in charge of environment affairs held in Cairo with the participation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, calling on Arab States and Arab regional and international organizations to raise the Israeli occupation forces systematic sabotage of the Arab environment in the occupied territories on international platforms and mobilize the necessary international support for Arab causes.
The cabinet expressed the Kingdom's strong condemnation of the attack on a security force in Gaza Governorate in the Arab Republic of Egypt, the terrorist bombings targeting a police truck in the city of Quetta, south-west of Pakistan, and the suicide attacks which took place in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries, and renewing its stand by those countries against terrorist acts, expressing condolences to the families of the victims and wishing the injured a quick recovery.
